Elementary teachers rally 'for a fair deal for our students' outside Kitchener MPP's office

Holding signs and chanting things like "cuts hurt kids," elementary public school teachers hit the picket line in Kitchener Monday morning.

More than 200 education workers represented by the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) gathered on the sidewalk in front of the plaza where Kitchener South-Hespeler MPP Amy Fee has her office.

For about an hour, they were joined by ETFO president Sam Hammond.

All public elementary schools were closed Monday as the teachers went out on strike. The ETFO is currently at a standstill with the provincial government over contract negotiations. Neither side has sat down to talk about a new contract since Dec. 19.

"There's been no movement from the government through the mediator to establish talks at the table. All they have to do is to give their team the authority and the mandate to come back and bargain," Hammond said.

In a statement to CBC Kitchener-Waterloo, Minister Stephen Lecce says the government is ready to talk.

"I've been very clear that the government stands ready to negotiate when the mediator brings the parties together to continue good-faith bargaining discussions," Lecce said.

Hammond said he understands parents and caregivers are starting to feel frustrated with the rotating one-day strikes by different teachers' unions, but they also understand why teachers are striking.

"I think the vast majority of parents get it, that we're taking a stand for public education," Hammond said.

On Friday, Premier Doug Ford said he was losing patience with the teachers' unions.

"Our 83,000 members across the province ... they're extremely frustrated with this governmentnot getting back to the table to bargain issues that are important to students, parents and our members," Hammond said.

'It's just insane'

Laura Driver is a student at Grand River Collegiate Institute and was picketing with the workers because her mom is a teacher and her brother is in elementary school.

She said she's also concerned about the changes she's seeing in her own high school courses. One class has 35 students, and Driver says in order to get in or out of the classroom, students have to move desks around to make a path.

"I think it's just insane," Driver said. "We're packed in rows of desks."

Nadine Feser is an occasional teacher in Waterloo region and says the increasing class sizes are making things unsafe for students and teachers.

"Everybody needs to be safe, and there's onlyso much that one person can do to give the kids the help that they need," she said.

PC MPPs 'share your frustration'

Kitchener Centre MPP Laura Mae Lindo attended the picket line Monday morning. As a member of the NDPand official Opposition, she says her role is to make sure the voice of the constituents is heard.

"My job is literally this: Being outside talking to the folks thatare doing one of the most important jobs for this province, talking to the kids and the parents that are impacted.I was taking calls from parents this morning and making sure that gets out into the world so that people understand the urgency of getting back to the table. That's my role," she said.

A joint statement was issued by the three Progressive Conservative MPPsfrom the region, Mike Harris, Belinda Karahalios and Amy Fee Monday afternoon.

"We share your frustrations towards the escalating disruption caused by teacher unions," the statement reads.

They say they stand against the strikes in the region and called thejob action unfair.

"Families have faced union job action far too often. That's why we'll continue our work to land deals for parents that keep students in class," the statement said.

More strikes next week

On Tuesday, schools in Waterloo region will be open again, but then, public elementary schools in Guelph and Wellington County will be closed as teachers with the Upper Grand District School Board go on strike.

ETFO has planned more job action next week if a deal isn't reached with the province.

There will be a one-day strike for Upper Grand District School Board on Tuesday, Feb. 4 and for Waterloo Region District School Board on Friday, Feb. 7. The union is also planning a province-wide strike on Thursday, where all ETFO members would be off the job.

The union says these strikes will move ahead if central agreements are not reached by this Thursday.